Expansion-joint for engines.



No. 638,891. Patented Dec. l2, I899. M. M. SUPPES.

EXPANSION JOINT FOR ENGINES.

(Application filed Sept. 1, 1899.) (N0 Model.) 2 SheetS-Sh86t I.

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No. 638,89l. Patented Dec. l2, I899. M. M. SUPPES. EXPANSIUNJUINT FOB ENGINES.

' (Application filed Sept. 1, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shaft 2.

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NITE STATES PATENT rrrcn.

EXPANSION-JOINT FOR ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,891, dated December 12, 1899. Application filed Septemberl, 1899. Serial No. 729,177. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAXIMILIAN M. SUPPES, of Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Expansion-Joints for Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to an improved expansion-joint for connecting the two cylinders of double engines. The means heretofore commonly employed for the purpose of making such connection has consisted of a copper pipe bent into the form of a sharplycurved arch and providing the necessary flexi bility for expansion and contraction. This arrangement, however, is open to the objection that it throws the regulating-valve, located at the center of the arch, so far away from the cylinders that the clearance is very considerably increased, and inasm uch as each time a stop is made to reverse the regulating-valve must be closed there results a very considerable waste of steam. This will be readily appreciated when it is remembered that when the regulating-valve is closed and the engine reversed all room from the under side of the regulating-valve to the face of the cylinder-ports is waste room, and when an engine is reversed many times in the course of a day the sum total of such waste is very considerable. Another objection to the practice above named and one of more serious character is that with the high steam-pressure now generally carried the copper pipes are not safe. This is due to the fact that the high steam temperature has a tendency to crystallize the copper, and if the metal employed in these pipes is made sufficiently thick to guard against danger from this source there is wanting the necessary degree of flexibility. This element of flexibility is a very essential one, since otherwise the effect of the expansion and contraction is to throw the cylinders out of parallel, causing undue friction and wear between the cylinders and pistons and other'attendant evils.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the objections above stated by providing a cylinder connection of simple character which provides efficiently for expanlating-valve and the cylinder-ports.

sion and contraction, which is perfectly safe in operation, and which reduces very materially the waste steam-space between the regu- I accomplish these objects by the means now to be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1, 2, and 3 are views, partlyin end elevation and partly in section, illustrating three different applications of my invention; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing my improved joint on a larger scale.

In the drawings the letters A A designate two cylinders to be connected, and B B the respective steam-chests thereof.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the letter O designatesa pipe-section or tubular casting, preferably of iron, having an elbow O at one end for connection with the steam-chest of one of the cylinders, as cylinder A. This elbow may be formed integrally, or it may be, as shown, a separate piece. The part O at its central portion has a coupling-arm C for the regulating and admission valve, (indicated at D.). E designates a T member or sleeve open at its ends and through which the opposite end portion of the part G extends. The horizontal or main portion of this member E is enlarged intermediately of its end portions to forma steam chamber or space F, which surrounds ports or slots 0, formed in the part 0. I prefer to form two adjacent series of these ports or slots, extending around the circumference of O, as shown. The short arm of the member E communicates with the space or chamber F and is coupled to the steam-chest B of the cylinder B. WVhere the pipe 0 enters and leaves the member E,

glands G and packings G are employed for securing steam-tight joints. The adjacent end of the pipe 0 is closed by means of a flanged plug H, whose ground face is fitted to the similar face of an internal flange c. of the pipe G.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 differs from the construction above described only in that the regulating-valve is interposed in the part 0 instead of being coupled to a vertical arm thereof.

In Fig. 3 the connection is made with the sides of the steam-chests instead of at the tops thereof. In this arrangement the coupling or joint member E is of slightly-different form to provide for its end connection to the steamchest B, and the end of the member 0 is open for direct discharge into this chest.

In all three forms, as will be readily seen, the member 0 of the connection is permitted the required movement in the member E to compensate for expansion and contraction, while the two members, together with the interposed packing, form a simple, efficient, and steam-tight connection between the steamchests of the two cylinders. It will also be observed that the waste room or distance between the regulating-valve and the cylinderports is very materially less than is the case in the old construction above referred to with its high arch of copper pipe.

Having described my invention, what I claim,and desire to protect by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In an engine, the combination with a pair of parallel steam-cylinders arranged side by side and their attached steam-chests, of a pipe member rigidly connected to each of the steamchests, one of said members having an end portion telescopically engaging the other member, an admission-valve in one of the said members, and means of steam communication between the telescoping portions of the said members, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a pair of parallel cylinders and their respective steam-chests, of a tubular pipe or casting secured to and communicating with one of said chests at one end, and extending over toward the other cylinder,said pipe orcasting havinga regulatingvalve, a sleeve member secured to the other chest and receiving movably therein the 0p posite end portion of said pipe or casting, and means of steam communication through said sleeve member into the adjacent steam-chest.

8. The combination with a pair of parallel cylinders and their respective steam-chests, of a connecting-pipe rigidly secured to one of said steam-chests and communicating therewith, said pipe having a regulating and admission valve, a sleeve secured to the other steam-chest and loosely surrounding the opposite end portion of said pipe, a packing between said sleeve and pipe, and means of steam communication from the pipe through said sleeve into the adjacent steam-chest.

at. The combination with two parallel steamcylinders and their steam-chests,of'a rigid pipe member secured to and communicating with one of said chests at one end, and atits opposite end portion having a plurality of circumferential ports or slots, a sleeve member secured to the other steam-chest and having a steam space or chamber surrounding said ports or slots and communicating with the last-named steam-chest, and means for effecting a steam-tight longitudinally-movable connection between said pipe and sleeve member.

5. In an expansion-joint of the character described, the combination with the pipe or coupling member C secured to one of the steam-chests and provided at its free end portion with a plurality of lateral ports, of the sleeve Esecured to the other steam-chest and receiving telescopically therein the said free end portion of the coupling member, said sleeve having a steam space or chamber surrounding the said ports and communicating with the adjacent steam-chest.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAXIMILIAN M. SUPP ES.

\Vitnesses:

FRED W. WATERMAN, P. M. BOYD. 

